Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Week 7:The Novel of Spiritual Education

Harry Potter is a probably the most popular fiction movie of my generation. I have read the Harry Potter and the Sorcecer's Stones in elementary School and absolutely loved it. It was really fun to read it again this week because you notice so much you never did. When I first read it, I just read it as it is. Just story after a story. Rereading it now, I notice so much depth in characters and symbolisms.

One of the biggest element that struck me was the Mirror of Erised. The mirror reveals the character's deepest desire. It really reflects the characteristics of the person looking into the mirror. I felt that "desire" plays a big motif throughout the novel. The sorcerer's stone is another element symbolizing desire for power and strength. Greed is portrayed in Lord Voldemort which backs him evil.


Rereading the novel, I developed a new favorite towards Hagrid. I think its great how he is this huge man with the sweetest heart. He is clumsy, yet loving. There is a great contrast in Hagrid. His love for weird creatures and animals are so hilarious because it is evident that everyone else is freaked out about it, yet he has a great care and love for creepy creatures.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Week 6: A Rich Fantasy Life

For this week's reading I read the Hobbit. I really enjoyed this reading a lot. I have never read any of Tolkein's novel or watched any of his film. I love the creativity of the characters in the Hobbit. Tolkein really focuses on describing all of the characters in great depth.

My favorite part about the book is when the Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves went to Beom's house. The dwarves were entering the home two at a time because there were so many of them and they did not want to upset Beom. There were so many dwarves that every minute they were knocking on the door and would enter without listening to Beom. I looked up this scene on youtube and I felt that the movie captured this scene very well. It was very comedic. I love how everyone seem to make themselves at home regardless of Beom's reaction. They created a huge feast and just started eating all his food. It is funny because they are so polite and sweet, yet they are being very intrusive.

My favorite part of the Hobbit movie is when golem is looking for the ring and he is freaking out. I felt that the acting of golem was really well done. It really shows the important of the ring and the characteristic of what the ring makes you. Golem seems delusional about the ring.

Holkein's Hobbit is about the hero's journey. It encounters problems and there is a huge character development from the beginning of the novel to the end. It seems like a simple story line, but there is so much depth in how the characters are challenged. The challenges really reveals personalities.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Week 5: Witches

For this weeks blog, I read "Aunt Mariah" by Diana Wynee Jones. Jones does not reveal that Aunt Mariah is a witch until way later in novel. The book contains a lot of magical elements. My favorite part of the novel was when Mig found out that Aunt Maria had turned Chris into a wolf. There was a great deal of intensity in this part. I like how Jones writes a lot of the emotions of the character because it really made me sympathize with the characters.
I thought the way Diana Wynee Jones characterized witches was very unique. Aunt Maria's characteristic is seemingly sweet, but mean and harsh at times. In one of the part, she makes other people close her corset for her. Also, she makes people cook for her. She is spoiled.
The first time she uses magic is when she turns Chris into a wolf. She was upset that he was being rude to her.
I feel that the witches in this story does take on the stereotypical aspect of a witch in being that it cast spells. But also, it changes the American idea of a witch being an ugly green mole-faced lady. She is just a normal lady that does not really use magic to do everything. Most of the time she is talking to people and making people do things for her by words. She doesn't fly in a broom or anything. She is mean, but not a stereotypical malicious evil witch.